#15 Alpha and Beta

This negotiation was different. I liked the fact that we acted it out as we did, to really get the feel. It is very hard to not look someone in the eye. It does however,make you focus on your other senses, such as good listening. I think perhaps this is not such a bad thing, and maybe sometimes as Americans we read too much into things and miscommunicate from that. I could tell from the tone of someone's voice what they were trying to communicate, or if they were frustrated, excited, impatient, or just plain bored.

Our culture--Betan- obviously a take off, of some kind of Asian country. We were not to say no, but to say, "That would be difficult" I kind of like that. It's non-aggressive culture and way submissive was a nice change from the dominant, type of culture we live in now. I think it was enjoyable to host tea and serve. It is true that when dining and eating together it breaks the ice and brings fellowship. I thought it was a neat negotiation.

#14 Pepulator Exercise

We agreed initially online to go with 10 (I think)
then we changed to 30 as, we realized the best strategy.

#13 Happy Valley Consolidated

As representative of Happy Valley School district-High School and K-8 Principles, the main issues for me to get across was my new approaches. Some of these in my opinion were hard to interject without appearing pushy and not wanting to waste anyone's time. I gave it my best effort to try some active listening, small confrontation, and suggesting we brainstorm or problem solve.

I find that in meetings it's easier to stay quite until you can find an opportunity to get your opinion in. Challenges arise with different personalites and roles. Scott lead most of the meeting, and it was a bit touchy as the agenda's were coming out at the last minute.

Finding common ground with all the other members and trying not to appear critical of the High School process that is obviously ridiclous to have the aides send out confidential information, was getting touchy for me. Bill believed that the aides were the best asset to this process, and me and Amy did not. Not sure why Bill pushed that issue with me, but one of the main things was getting the agenda straight, and discussing the agenda items.

It was interesting to feel the role of this school meeting and the issues that do come up in school envrionments, but a meeting is a meeting..ugh!